Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe is the star subject of a TMZ video released early Tuesday morning of a bar fight occurring this weekend at a nightclub in downtown Denver involving Wolfe and at least one other person.

In the video, Wolfe is seen in a black shirt and chain pushing his way through a crowd of people and arguing with a couple of club patrons. He eventually throws a punch with his right hand toward one of them. TMZ reported that Wolfe was hit with a bottle that left him bleeding.

Denver Police said the incident was never reported and they will not have a case against Wolfe unless someone files a complaint or new evidence is presented.

“Derek talked to us on Monday about the issue, and it’s been addressed internally,” Broncos vice president of public relations Patrick Smyth said.Read more…

As the Broncos’ quarterback situation with Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler takes center stage, Denver must also prepare to possibly face life without two of their defensive studs. Linebacker Danny Trevathan will test free agency and defensive end Malik Jackson is expected to dip his feet in the waters as well.

Both guys came in the league as late-round draft picks playing on low-paid rookie deals. Now, they have a Super Bowl ring with an eye to cash in with a big contract. They might be outside of the Broncos budget.

“One of those guys will end up with John Fox in Chicago. I’m pretty sure of that,” Joel Corry, a former agent and current salary cap expert for CBS Sports, said of Jackson and Trevathan.

Denver has expressed a strong interest in retaining Jackson, but they have to be prepared to replace him along with several other free agents that are likely to move on to other teams this offseason.

ESPN college football analyst Todd McShay has University of Indiana offensive tackle Jason Spriggs projected to the Broncos at No. 31 in his Mock Draft 3.0. Spriggs, 6-foot-7, 307 pounds, flew up most experts draft boards over the last few weeks due to his impressive athleticism and solidified it with a great performance at the NFL Combine. He ran a 4.94 40-yard dash and leaped a 9-foot-7-inch broad jump, both first among all offensive linemen. He also did 31 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, fourth among offensive linemen.

Peyton Manning and Matt Stafford will face off Sunday in Detroit. (Getty Images)

The Broncos travel to Detroit this weekend to face the Lions in a Week 3 prime-time matchup on their turf. The game is a reunion for Peyton Manning and his former coach in Indianapolis, Jim Caldwell. It’s also a reunion for Matt Prater and Manny Ramirez, both former Broncos.

Here’s a look at what Caldwell and others in Detroit have had to say about the Broncos this week:

JIM CALDWELL, COACH

On how Broncos safety T.J. Ward can impact the game:
“I’ve had a lot of opportunities to see him over the years when he was in Cleveland we were at Baltimore. He’s an active guy. He runs and makes plays and he does a nice job just in terms of anticipating what you’re going to do because he’s seen a lot. Those guys that have that kind of experience, they’re not — like (Glover) Quin, for us, there’s not a whole lot of things that he hasn’t seen and they can anticipate and adjust and he’s a good tackler. So he’s a real tone-setter for them back there.”

On kicker Matt Prater facing his former team:
“He’s a pro. Those guys don’t go through the type of true emotional swings that you would anticipate. I mean this guy has been through a lot of football games and he’s played against maybe ex-teammates and other things that could’ve stirred him emotionally, as well. So this game, I don’t think it will make that much of a difference to him. They all want to play and compete well, but not something to the point where someone gets unrealistic about what he’s capable of doing. But I think he’s got a good head on his shoulders, but he’s a competitor, too.”

On DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller:
“Two very unique rushers that have a unique blend of tremendous power and speed and tenacity. To have bookends like that gives you all kinds of problems because, typically, if you have one, you may be able to slide your line in that direction. You can do some things creatively to kind of slow one guy down. When you have two, it makes it extremely difficult. Those guys are as good as they come.”

On the main thing that he learned from working with Manning:
“There’s many. I can just tell you, he’s quite rare. He’s an unusual guy.”Read more…

The Broncos entered Thursday’s draft with eyes on multiple prizes. Had the picks gone as planned, with nobody plummeting, Denver was prepared to take an offensive tackle. While several tackles visited or talked with the Broncos — Andrus Peat, DJ Humphries, Ereck Flowers, T.J. Clemmings — Cedric Ogbuehi emerged as the most viable, desirable target. When the Bengals selected him with the 21st pick, the Broncos made an executive decision, preferring an elite pass rusher over the fifth tackle available. So general manager John Elway dialed up Detroit and made it happen, sending Denver’s first rounder, two fifth-rounder’s and offensive lineman Manny Ramirez to the Lions for the 23rd pick.

Defensive end Shane Ray provides tantalizing talent, a high-risk, high-reward selection after he fell in the draft because of a Monday citation for marijuana possession.

Which brings us to Friday, Day 2.

The Broncos own the 59th overall pick in the second round (27th) and the 92nd pick in the third round (28th). The Broncos should have the opportunity to find an offensive tackle. Those remaining on the board include Colorado State’s Ty Sambrailo and Utah’s Jeremiah Poutasi, both of whom visited the Broncos. If center becomes the priority, Florida’s Max Garcia is worth a look in the the third round. He would fit the Broncos’ zone blocking scheme and has talked with Denver. Again, he profiles well.

Inside linebacker can’t be dismissed, and no one would be surprised if it’s addressed Friday. Miami’s Denzel Perryman fits perfectly. He’s undersized like Danny Trevathan, but also plays with Trevathan’s relentless motor. TCU’s Paul Dawson could be on the board as well, and if he slips, Mississippi State’s Benardrick McKinney.

If the Broncos elect for a guard, names to file away include Hobart’s Ali Marpet, Florida State’s Tre Jackson. A.J. Cann ranks as the top guard and met with Denver, but is unlikely to be available late in the second round.

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The NFL draft provides sports’ best reality show. Kevin Costner turned it into a film last season, which included drama with draft picks, relationships and an overwhelmed intern answering phones.

Thing is, the draft doesn’t need drama. It provides it organically.

This year the plot lines have taken a disturbing turn with three likely first-rounders connected to negative incidents. Edge rushers Shane Ray (cited for marijuana possession during a traffic stop) and Randy Gregory (failed drug test at combine and admitted heavy marijuana use) and right tackle La’el Collins (police want to question him following the murder of a pregnant woman in Louisiana) have seen their stock nosedive.

What does this mean for the Broncos? If Ray falls to No. 28, the Broncos will be hard-pressed to pass him up. He’s a relentless pass rusher with special first-step quickness. With DeMarcus Ware’s contract running two more years — and remember he really faded last season — Ray represents a potential enticing bookend to Von Miller. Like Miller, Ray would become a part of the NFL drug program, subject to testing, increasing the risk. The Broncos would have to ask themselves: Is this a kid who made one bad decision or is this a pattern of behavior?

Defensive end Quanterus Smith #93 of the Denver Broncos working at practice at the Dove Valley training facility on Oct. 29, 2014 in Englewood. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post)

Quanterus Smith’s potential never matched his production. With the draft approaching this week, creating additional competition for roster spots, the Broncos waived the defensive end with injury after a failed physical on his left knee.

A fifth-round draft choice in 2013 out of Western Kentucky, Smith played 15 games last season as DeMarcus Ware’s backup, posting 11 tackles and zero sacks, leaving the Broncos ready to move in a different direction as first reported by The Denver Post. He appeared in 308 snaps, showing flashes of pass-rush ability, but was unable to gain traction. According to Pro Football Focus, Smith received a negative grade in all games, save for his 15-play appearance at New England where he displayed strong run defense. He spent the 2013 NFL season on injured reserve because of a knee injury suffered in his final collegiate season.

The Broncos fell to the Bengals, 37-28, in Cincinnati as Peyton Manning threw four interceptions and the Broncos as a whole looked listless. Here were the notable and not-so-notable moments from the Denver loss.

BESTS

Talib with TD: Aqib Talib scored his second touchdown, rambling 33 yards after a diving first-quarter interception. He grabbed a pass tipped by receiver A.J. Green. The bad news? It was the Broncos’ best play in the first half.

Bolden big time: Omar Bolden breathed life into the Broncos with a 77-yard kickoff return to open the second half. Bolden has provided a boost on returns after the pedestrian performance by Andre Caldwell.

Fullback duty: Ben Garland, an offensive guard, found a role in the back field. He served as a fullback and lead blocker on C.J. Anderson’s third-quarter touchdown run.

WORSTS

Hill of means: Jeremy Hill remains a rookie-of-the-year candidate. He turned the Broncos’ defense into traffic cones, eclipsing 100 yards rushing in the first half. His 85-yard touchdown run represented the second-longest against the Broncos.

Third-string problems: Weakside linebacker Todd Davis, a waiver-wire claim from the Saints, is a great story, but he wasn’t ready for prime-time, missing multiple tackles.

Ward injured: T.J. Ward delivered a hard hit in the fourth-quarter and walked off the field with help from trainers after suffering a neck injury.Read more…

Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe rebounded this season after a frightening medical scare 13 months ago. At his lowest, he dropped to 255 pounds. Doubt entered his mind. But as he recovered from a seizure, he realized he would play again.

“What I went through was just trying to get back to normal. On the field, I am starting to feel like myself, instead of somebody who didn’t have weight behind me, didn’t have strength, all the stuff I am used to having,” Wolfe told me recently. “I feel a lot better than last year. I can’t imagine feeling any worse than that.”

When looking for reasons why the Broncos have arguably their best defensive line in franchise history, don’t forget about Wolfe. He ranks as one of the most productive players per snap in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. Like Malik Jackson, he is strong enough to defend the run, and quick enough to rush the passer.

Wolfe began his trek to the NFL while starring for Cincinnati. He returns on Monday night, keeping a low profile.

“I will probably get around eight tickets,” Wolfe said. “And there will be more people there as well.”

A brutish presence at 6-foot-5, 285 pounds, Wolfe owns 32 tackles and 1.5 sacks this season. He landed in Denver after starring for the Bearcats. Wolfe was named the Big East Conference co-Defensive Player of the Year and earned second-team All-America honors as a senior in 2011 after posting 9.5 sacks.

Oregon State has a head coaching vacancy with a quarterback named Luke Del Rio on its roster. Luke, who starred his senior year at Valor Christian High School, will be a redshirt sophomore next year. Naturally, there had been speculation Oregon State would be interested in interviewing Jack Del Rio for their head job.

But as it turns out, Oregon State might have a better chance of listing Del Rio among its coaching candidates if his son wasn’t there.

Colin Kaepernick has the legs of a running back and the arm of a major league pitcher. He was reported to have thrown a 92 mph fastball while a senior in high school, and the Cubs drafted him in the 43rd round of the 2009 first-year player draft, hoping the Nevada product would turn down a future in football for one in baseball.

He didn’t. Kaepernick stayed at Nevada and was drafted in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft by the 49ers.

He filled in for Danny Trevathan in the Broncos’ first three games, a role he figured would dissolve once Trevathan took over last week. On the Jets’ second offensive play, Trevathan injured his left knee, and Marshall’s day changed. As did his gear.

Five days since undergoing an appendectomy, Montee Ball returned to watch Broncos practice. Ball dressed out, but did not participate, spending his time on the sidelines or listening in on the huddle as plays were called. He didn’t provide a prediction on when he will return, but is making gradual progress.

“I feel good,” said Ball, whose appendix was removed on Monday night. “Right now I am getting healthy and strengthening my core, just listening to my body. Just taking it day by day step by step. When you see me back in pads, you will know I am ready.”

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is sacked by the Broncos’ DeMarcus Ware during an NFL preseason game on Aug. 7, 2014, in Denver. (Joe Mahoney, The Associated Press)

DeMarcus Ware is one of the best pass rushers in NFL history, and now he’s a Bronco. You’d think he’d prefer to play against immobile, pocket passers like his own Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. But as it turns out, Ware likes playing against the scramblers.

Why? Because Ware loves the chase. And he has the speed for it. He showed his pass-rush speed Thursday night as three times he ran after Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson. Ware caught Wilson once for a 1-yard sack and hurried him the other two times.

The defense heads to drills on the first day of the Denver Broncos 2014 training camp July 24, 2014 at Dove Valley. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

The Broncos have signed former Cleveland Browns defensive end Brian Sanford. Undrafted out of Temple in 2010, Sanford was signed by then-Browns general manager Tom Heckert, who is now the Broncos’ director of player personnel.

Sanford played five games for the Browns in 2011. He was traded to Seattle at about this time last year, but the deal was rescinded when Seattle guard John Moffitt failed his physical by the Browns’ medical staff. Moffitt was later traded to the Broncos.

SEATTLE — Training camp moves in whispers and Twitter pics. The NFL conducts business with a veil of secrecy befitting an upcoming invasion. Generalities rule. Conclusions difficult to draw.

The difference was driven home to me during Saturday’s scrimmage at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The media was not allowed to photograph after the stretching session despite the fact that nearly 40,000 fans were watching, many snapping with cameras and filming with iPhones. Weird.

Broncos linebacker Von Miller showed off his creative side Friday, sporting socks with the image of late rapper Tupac Shakur. (Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post)

Von Miller continues to mature, he said, tries to learn from past mistakes. However, he hasn’t lost his playful side. Entering his fourth year in the NFL, the Broncos linebacker believes levity is necessary during training camp.

The premier pass rusher changed the focus Friday from his surgically-repaired right knee to his feet. Or more specifically his fashion. Miller rocked Tupac Shakur socks. He customized them, featuring a picture of the late rapper.

“I have always had crazy socks. Different colors. Neon. It’s camp; it’s grueling. Whenever I can make it a little easier or lift the guys’ spirits, I try to do it,” Miller said.

Miller isn’t finished. He plans to sport a pair with Biggie Smalls, and possibly a few teammates.

Denver Broncos DeMarcus Ware (94) heads to drills during organized team activities on June 10, 2014, at Dove Valley in Englewood. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

Speaking to reporters at Dove Valley on Wednesday, the first day players had to report to training camp, Broncos general manager John Elway said he wanted this year’s team to find a defensive identity.

“I think that we’ve got to get to be where we’re a complete football team,” Elway said. “We can’t rely on (Peyton Manning) to win it because he can’t win it by himself. So I think what we’ve done defensively, especially with DeMarcus Ware and the leadership ability there, and Aqib (Talib), as well as T.J. (Ward) and the leadership that they’ve brought is the defense to have their identity. And they want to have their identity, take pride in what they do and not have to rely on that offense to bail us out.

One of the last teams to bother with the formality of signing draft picks, the Broncos got busy on the first business day of June by finalizing four-year contracts with second-round receiver Cody Latimer, sixth-round center Matt Paradis and seventh-round linebacker Corey Nelson.

The Broncos and St. Louis Rams were the only two NFL teams who had yet to sign a draft pick through Sunday. There is no hurry, though, because since the most dramatic change in the 2011 collective bargaining agreement, all draft picks are pretty much slotted into contracts.—Mike Klis, The Denver Post

JOHN ELWAY’S SON ARRESTED; ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING GIRLFRIEND
John Albert Elway III, 24, was charged early Saturday morning with assault and disturbing the peace, police reported. He was released from the Denver jail on a $550 bond after being arrested at his father’s Cherry Hills Village home. His next court date is Thursday.

In an alleged fight with his girlfriend, Jack Elway, the son of Broncos executive vice president of football operations and general manager John Elway, ripped out pieces of the woman’s hair and pushed her to the ground.—Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post

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MORE LINE SHUFFLES; WINTSON JUSTICE TRIES TACKLE
Monday, the Broncos continued moving bodies up front with Wintson Justice receiving a look at right tackle and Vinston Painter taking some reps at guard. Chris Clark entered organized team activities first at right tackle, but Denver wants to keep an open mind along the line.—Troy E. Renck, The Denver PostRead more…

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T.J. Ward believes the Broncos could have the NFL’s top defense. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

READY FOR PRIME TIME, T.J. WARD SETS LOFTY GOALS
Broncos safety T.J. Ward signed a four-year, $22.5 million free-agent contract with a $5-million signing bonus, triggering a swift defensive makeover. Ward said two weeks ago that Denver could have the NFL’s best defense, and he didn’t back down from that prediction on Monday.

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DEREK WOLFE GOOD TO GO AFTER SCARY ORDEAL
Derek Wolfe, the Broncos’ first pick in the 2012 draft, has made a start in every NFL game he has played, but a string of injuries and illnesses that landed him in an intensive care unit kept him from contributing to the Broncos’ playoff run to the Super Bowl last year. Now he’s ready for his return.

PREPARE TO PAY TO SEE PEYTON
The Broncos still have the most expensive NFL tickets for the 2014 season. TiqIQ broke down the average cost of tickets to all Broncos games at Sports Authority Field at Mile High this season. Turns out, the most expensive game is not the season-opener against the Indianapolis Colts (avg. of $582 per ticket) or against the defending champion Seattle Seahawks, on Sept. 21 ($592). No, the most expensive game is against the San Francisco 49ers, on Oct. 19. As of Monday evening, fans are looking at an average of $668 a pop to attend that one.

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.